COLUMBUS – A man shot to death behind a Hilltop home late Thursday night became the latest homicide victim in Columbus.
Columbus police officers and Fire Division paramedics responding to a reported shooting in the 300 block of S. Oakley Avenue at 11:28 p.m. found the Ernesto Merida Argueta victim in the rear of a home suffering from gunshot wounds.
Homicide Unit first shift supervisor Sgt. Dave Sicilian says Merida Argueta, 37, was transported to Mt. Carmel West Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead at approximately 11:45 p.m.
Investigators say the victim was in the rear of the location when an unknown person shot him and fled the scene, Sicilian said.
The investigation continues.
This is the 57th homicide in Columbus in 2018.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 645-4730 or Crime Stoppers at 645-TIPS (8477).